Many of major Nepali and English broadsheet dailies published from Kathmandu on Wednesday have given the top priority to the statement of Nepal Communist Party Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal that his party is closely watching the performance of ministers, hinting his party’s another Chairman and Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli is likely to reshuffle the Cabinet soon. On the other hand, some newspapers have made the lead story from statements of Prime Minister Oli during the House of Representatives meeting yesterday.
Statements made by Minister for Federal Affairs and General Administration Lalbabu Pandit during a meeting of a parliamentary committee yesterday about the staff adjustment in the federal structure have also been prioritised.
Meanwhile, some other sociocultural and economic issues have also been featured on the cover pages of Kathmandu broadsheets today.
Important
Dahal hints at Cabinet reshuffle
Two chairpersons of the ruling Nepal Communist Party—Oli and Dahal—are reviewing performance of the ministers in the Cabinet in a bid to reshuffle it so as to increase efficiency, according to newspaper reports.
Dahal informed about the preparations during a press meeting he organised in Khumaltar of Lalitpur yesterday.
“We are not thinking that some ministers should not be removed,” Rajdhani quotes him to say, “We will take strong initiatives if the ministers make people hopeless and the party a failure.”
TU cancels exams after question leak
Lead stories in Naya Patrika and Nagarik have reported that the Tribhuvan University on Tuesday cancelled the examinations of ‘Foundations of Education’ and ‘Advanced Educational Psychology’ conducted this Sunday and Tuesday respectively after finding that the questions were leaked before the tests.
In a conversation with Naya Patrika, Professor Hom Nath Bhattarai accepted that he was responsible for the leak and expressed readiness to face action.
Controversial persons also get national awards
President Bidya Devi Bhandari on Tuesday conferred various awards and medals on total 344 persons which were announced on this year’s Republic Day, according to Gorkhapatra.
Republica adds that some of the persons receiving the award are controversial and notorious. They include former Chief Justice Gopal Parajuli, suspended SP Bidyananda Majhi, tainted businessman Rajendra Khetan, plagiarism accused TU Vice Chancellor Tirtha Khaniya and former Chief Secretary Som Lal Subedi.
Naya Patrika has also carried a story about Majhi.
Ignored
Speaker leaving for China while Parliament is under pressure
Speaker Krishna Bahadur Mahara is leaving for a China trip this Friday while the Federal Parliament is under pressure to adopt various laws so as to ensure implementation of provisions of fundamental rights by September 19, Nepal Samacharpatra reports in a four column story.
The Speaker is scheduled to stay in China for one week and it will directly affects meeting of the House of Representatives, the report adds.
Govt rejects Nepali Army’s investment proposal
Karobar reports that the Ministry of Defence has rejected the proposal of Nepali Army to make investments in profitable industries through its welfare fund citing such activities will tarnish the professional image of the national military organisation.
Earlier, media had reported that the Nepali Army wants to amend the Army Act so as to expand its business activities in multiple sectors.
Gold smuggling probe report gathers dust
It has been more than one month since a committee formed by the Ministry of Home Affairs formed to investigate into the smuggling and disappearance of 33.5 kg gold and subsequent murder of one of the mules submitted its report to the government. However, the report has not been forwarded to any agency for implementation. It has been kept at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, according to Nagarik.
Demonetised Indian banknotes unlikely to get exchanged
As the central bank of India is preparing to close the chapter of demonetised banknotes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 denominations, the notes worth INR 100 million are likely to remain unused in Nepal, The Himalayan Times reports in its anchor story.
The Reserve Bank of India’s report released recently mentions that 99.3 per cent of scrapped notes have been returned to the formal banking system, suggesting the exchange process will stop now.
Govt adopts soft approach to NGOs
Owing to criticisms from various walks of life, the government has withdrew from its position about activities of national and international non-government organisations, Republica claims in a four column story.
In a plan to woo NGOs and civil society organisations, the National Planning Commission on Tuesday organised a consultative meeting with them and assured the government will work together with them incorporating their suggestions, according to the report.
Interesting
Chitwan police offer chocolates to traffic rule violators
A four column anchor story in Kantipur reports that traffic police in Chitwan district have begun distributing chocolates and snacks to people violating road discipline. Police have claimed it will make them feel embarrassed and consequently they will change their behaviours.
“It is negligence to violate rules even when you know them. Therefore, we have distributed chocolates to embarrass you,” the report quotes Bed Prasad Gautam, Chief of the District Police Office.
